Beacon Hill Roll

Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on one roll call from the week of May 13-17. There were no roll calls in the Senate.

Bob Katzen/ bob@beaconhillrollcall.com

THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on one roll call from the week of May 13-17. There were no roll calls in the Senate.

$300 MILLION FOR LOCAL ROADS AND BRIDGES (H 3379) House 156-0, approved a bill providing $300 million for maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state. The money would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds. This represents an increase of $100 million above last year’s $200 million funding.

Supporters said this funding is crucial for cities and towns for many local projects and to help them keep the roads and bridges safe.

Following expected Senate approval, the bill will go Gov. Deval Patrick for his signature. That, however, will not quite open the spigot for the money to go to local communities. A second bill to authorize the specific terms of the sale of the bonds still has to be filed by Gov. Patrick and approved by both branches. Local officials fear a reoccurrence of last year when a delay resulted in the funds not being distributed until August, missing several months of prime construction time in the spring and summer.

Lt. Gov. Tim Murray responded to municipal leaders’ concerns.

“I certainly think the governor would be willing to consider some type of effort in terms of getting some money out the door this spring so we can take advantage of the spring season on a pro-rated, tentative basis,” said Murray.

A “Yes” vote is for the $300 million.

Rep. Paul Brodeur Yes

Rep. Leah Cole Yes

Rep. Michael Costello Yes

Rep. Diana DiZoglio Yes

Rep. Paul Donato Yes

Rep. James Dwyer Yes

Rep. Lori Ehrlich Yes

Rep. Christopher Fallon Yes

Rep. Robert Fennell Yes

Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante Yes

Rep. Bradford Hill Yes

Rep. Bradley Jones Yes

Rep. John Keenan Yes

Rep. Jason Lewis Yes

Rep. James Lyons Yes

Rep. Wayne Matewsky Yes

Rep. Leonard Mirra Yes

Rep. Jerald Parisella Yes

Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein Yes

Rep. Carl Sciortino Yes

Rep. Theodore Speliotis Yes

Rep. Steven Walsh Yes

Rep. Donald Wong Yes

Also up on Beacon Hill

ELECT PRESIDENT VIA NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE (H 591) The Election Laws Committee held a hearing on a bill that would repeal a 2010 law that made Massachusetts a member of the Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote.

The agreement would require states that join the pact to cast all of their electoral votes for the presidential candidate who wins a majority of the national popular vote in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The pact would become effective when states representing at least 270 electoral votes — a majority of the 538-vote Electoral College — join this compact.

States currently have a number of electoral votes equal to the number of senators and representatives that the state has in Congress. This endeavor is led by Fair Vote, a national group that says California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington have already joined the agreement. These states possess 132 electoral votes — 49 percent of the 270 necessary to activate the agreement.

OTHER ELECTION LAW CHANGES The Election Laws Committee’s agenda also includes bills that would require the use of paper ballots in Massachusetts and prohibit the use of all electronic voting machines (S 324); allow voters who do not speak English to have a translator accompany them into the voting booth (H 577); allow 17-year-olds to vote in local city and town elections (H 583); and give voters the option of voting for “none of the above” on all election ballots (H 642).

HEALTH AND SEX ED An Education Committee hearing focused on health and sex education. The agenda included legislation that would provide child exploitation awareness education, including education about child abduction and child sexual abuse, to students in grades 2 through 8 (S 274); require health education classes to cover eye health and exercises (S 201); and make an exemption to the current state law requiring parental notification of any sex education classes and allowing parents to excuse their children from them (H 509). This bill would exempt from the notification “any material designed to promote tolerance and respect, including difference in sexual orientation, when sexual implications are not discussed.”

NO SMOKING IN CARS WITH YOUNG KIDS (H 1984) The Public Health Committee heard testimony on a proposal that would prohibit smoking in cars in which there is a child who is required to be in a child passenger restraint. Under Massachusetts law, children must use a restraint until they are at least 8 years old or at least 57 inches tall. Supporters said that second-hand smoke causes respiratory problems, ear infections and mental health disorders including depression. No one testified against the bill, but Richard Smith, a representative from cigarette manufacturer Reynolds America, observed the hearing. He did not testify, noting that company does not take a position on smoking bans.

OTHER TOBACCO RESTRICTIONS The Public Health Committee’s hearing also included measures that would prohibit smoking in all condominiums, apartments and multi-family homes and allow it only in single-family, stand-alone residences (H 1897); prohibit smoking anywhere in senior multi-unit residences where an inhabitant uses oxygen (S 1028); and prohibit the possession of cigarettes and other tobacco by anyone under age 18 (H 1904).

TAX DEDUCTIONS AND EXEMPTIONS A Revenue Committee hearing included bills that would provide up to a $5,000 tax deduction for the cost of gluten-free food that is in excess of the cost of food containing gluten (S 1388); establish a five-day meals tax-free holiday in 2013 during which diners would not be required to pay the state’s 6.25 percent meals tax (S 1384); and exempt from the state’s 6.25 percent meals tax any liquor served in private rooms, not open to the public, at veterans organizations and other fraternal organizations (H 2493).

HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? During the week of May 13-17, the House met for a total of three hours and 53 minutes while the Senate met for a total of 41 minutes.